Zacks Research Has Pessimistic Outlook of Kirby Q1 Earnings

Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for shares of Kirby in a research report issued on Thursday, February 13th. Zacks Research analyst S. Goswami now anticipates that the shipping company will post earnings of $1.29 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.37. The consensus estimate for Kirby's current full-year earnings is $6.57 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Kirby's Q2 2025 earnings at $1.56 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.81 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.66 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $6.32 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.45 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.80 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $1.84 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.89 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $7.25 EPS.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The shipping company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.01). Kirby had a net margin of 8.78% and a return on equity of 9.78%.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Kirby from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com downgraded Kirby from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kirby currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $129.25.

Kirby Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE KEX traded down $1.86 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $106.18. 462,180 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 684,572. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $107.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $116.60. The stock has a market cap of $6.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.63, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.19. Kirby has a 1-year low of $84.76 and a 1-year high of $132.21.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kirby

In other news, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,244 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.61, for a total value of $133,866.84. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 5,545 shares of the company's stock, valued at $596,697.45. This represents a 18.32 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kirby by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 208 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new position in shares of Kirby in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Colonial Trust Co SC lifted its stake in shares of Kirby by 295.3% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 253 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Kirby during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in Kirby during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $52,000. 96.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Kirby

Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessel transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barge throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii.